Tonight, Aaron, Ella and I went to my parents' place for a dinner get-together with my godparents. When we arrived, Valerie, a missionary from Togo, Africa was there. My mom had invited her to join us. I've known her since I was a young girl (we went to the same church) and it was great hearing stories about her mission work and life.
First off, I want to give a SHOUT OUT to my most avid blog followers...my godparents! It was really great seeing you tonight. You guys are both so comforting to be around simply because you never change! Diane, you have always been the kindest, most patient person. Your laugh is contagious and your smile is welcoming. I thoroughly enjoy catching up with you. Good luck teaching your 4th graders this year! And Ken, it's so funny to see Ella's uncertain fear of you, just as I had when I was young. You are a spitfire (as my mom likes to say)! You are playful and fun to be around. Take care of Diane, okay? :)
Okay, now onto what I want to write about...
Valerie has been a missionary in Togo for the past thirteen years. She said whenever she comes back to the States she gets angry. She has gotten better about accepting the differences between the two worlds she calls home, but it's still so hard! We Americans spend money on things we absolutely don't need to survive, whereas the kids she teaches English to in Africa don't have enough money for food, let alone for medical care or school supplies. Valerie gives them money simply so they can have a meal I imagine equivalent to 1/10th of what we eat for breakfast on any given day!
While visiting Turlock, she stays with her sister and her kids. She says it's so hard to hear them talk about buying a 5th wheel and jets skis, when she knows back in her African home, the household annual income is $400...not even a slight fraction of the cost of such an American luxury. We spend money superfluously without seeing the true value in a dollar.
Perspective, people!
We so quickly take for granted all the little things that residents in Africa only dream about. A hot shower, a faucet of clean water, a bed with pillows and blankets. I'm remodeling our kitchen cabinets because they were scratched and outdated, but I at least have a kitchen...a kitchen filled with food at that!
A part of me wishes I can go to one of these 3rd world countries and witness the poverty first hand. I know it'll leave me depressed and helpless, but it'll also leave me so appreciative for the blessings in my life. Sure, I am grateful (I have much to be grateful for!), but I won't pretend, not even for a second, that I don't ever take things for granted. I'm self-absorbed in my own material world of things that don't matter.
Some of the lyrics of a song I really enjoy by Toby Mac go, "I don't want to gain the whole world and lose my soul." I feel like we can all relate to this song. We all need to not be so consumed with material wealth, but instead focus on the wealth that matters...you all know what that is. I don't want to have a house filled with beautiful decor, a luxurious car to drive, and nice clothing to wear, if my life is empty with love. Aaron and Ella make my life complete, not kitchen cabinets or other material un-necessities.
If we lived within our means and only bought things we needed, rather than wanted, I think not only would our lifestyles change, but in turn, our hearts would change to. Something to think about! It's definitely something I'm thinking about.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Life is Fragile
The topic of this post is inspired by a prayer request from a fellow blogger (who I am going to leave anonymous) who asked for us to lift up her friends as they mourn the loss of their 1-year old child in a horrible accident.
I'm not trying to make you all sad. My intention isn't to bring a grieving spirit to you. I am only stating the reality. When each of us was born, God already had the blueprints of our lives drawn up in full detail. He marked us with specific purposes and plans, and I believe if we are still living, He is not yet done with us! Isn't that remarkable? Doesn't that bring you a sense of hope? Sure, we all have our difficult struggles and our lives are nowhere near perfect, but if we are still here, God still needs us to serve a purpose.
The experiences God laid before me has molded me into the woman I am today. My experience through secondary infertility will further mold me into the woman God intends for me to become.
So, yes...to answer the above question...good does come from bad! Even when life feels like it couldn't get any worse, when rock bottom is a positive step up from your current state, God's plan is still in full force. God knew I'd be infertile on this very day. He feels the aching in my heart. But, unlike me, He sees the bigger picture. I see only a small area on this beautiful canvas of my life that He is carefully painting.
My prayer is that the parents of the 1-year old will someday see the bigger picture. I pray that I will also someday see the bigger picture as to why Aaron and I are struggling with infertility.
Can you grasp that? Can you actually fathom the pain and loss that family must be feeling?
How can any sort of good come from something like that happening?
So quickly life as we know it can be taken away. My co-worker lost her 30-year old son in a horrific motorcycle accident, leaving behind a wife and three young girls. My aunt and uncle (in-law) lost their 20-something-year old son before he had a chance to see the true potential in his life. My grandma lost her life at a young age. Cancer has slowly inched its way into many of my loved ones' lives, leaving them breathless and scared.
I'm not trying to make you all sad. My intention isn't to bring a grieving spirit to you. I am only stating the reality. When each of us was born, God already had the blueprints of our lives drawn up in full detail. He marked us with specific purposes and plans, and I believe if we are still living, He is not yet done with us! Isn't that remarkable? Doesn't that bring you a sense of hope? Sure, we all have our difficult struggles and our lives are nowhere near perfect, but if we are still here, God still needs us to serve a purpose.
The experiences God laid before me has molded me into the woman I am today. My experience through secondary infertility will further mold me into the woman God intends for me to become.
So, yes...to answer the above question...good does come from bad! Even when life feels like it couldn't get any worse, when rock bottom is a positive step up from your current state, God's plan is still in full force. God knew I'd be infertile on this very day. He feels the aching in my heart. But, unlike me, He sees the bigger picture. I see only a small area on this beautiful canvas of my life that He is carefully painting.
My prayer is that the parents of the 1-year old will someday see the bigger picture. I pray that I will also someday see the bigger picture as to why Aaron and I are struggling with infertility.
Ella's Ballet Recital
I'm sorry to say, but Ella and the rest of her dance class were pretty much the worst 3-year old performance of the evening. The girls did pretty good during practices, and we all figured there'd be a few bumps in the road, but tonight was a M-E-S-S! The audience applauded afterwards with full adoration and recognition of the attempt. I guess with an audience filled with mostly parents, they all know the hard work that goes into a performance like that first hand...even with an unpleasant outcome. :)
In Ella's defense, she didn't notice her teacher in stage right leading them until halfway through the performance. Until then, she seemed pretty lost without a leader to guide her through her moves.
Also, the teacher instilled in those girls how important their dots were. Ella was to skip to a blue dot and stay on it while dancing. If you watch the video, she backtracks to where she's supposed to be, losing focus on the dance steps she's to be performing at that time!
Sometime during the performance, the girls are to twirl to a front dot, and surprisingly, Ella was the only one who did it! That was the hardest part of the routine for her to get down and I was ecstatic that she actually did it! I was videotaping with the proudest grin on my face! But, as soon as she noticed none of the other girls did as they were supposed to, she went back to the original line. Good job, though, Ella! You rock!
All in all, though, I give the girls' attempt a standing ovation. They all enjoyed each other (parents included) and the past 10 weeks have been a lot of fun for us all. Ella grew a lot with this experience, and even if the performance tonight stunk, the lessons she learned will stick with her for quite some time.
When I told Ella today was her last day of ballet, I asked her if that makes her happy or sad. She made a pouty face and said that it made her sad. So, I asked her if she'd want to do a different ballet class. Her response was an excited, "Yes!"
So, I'm looking into dance studios as we speak! Even though it seems classes will be about $45.00/month (plus cost of shoes, leotards and costumes), you can't put a price on a child's happiness. And, since she has shown great interest in continuing ballet (unlike soccer!!!), we have to support her passion and keep it going until she tells us otherwise.
Okay, everybody...enjoy the performance! If you choose to leave a comment...be nice! :)
In Ella's defense, she didn't notice her teacher in stage right leading them until halfway through the performance. Until then, she seemed pretty lost without a leader to guide her through her moves.
Also, the teacher instilled in those girls how important their dots were. Ella was to skip to a blue dot and stay on it while dancing. If you watch the video, she backtracks to where she's supposed to be, losing focus on the dance steps she's to be performing at that time!
Sometime during the performance, the girls are to twirl to a front dot, and surprisingly, Ella was the only one who did it! That was the hardest part of the routine for her to get down and I was ecstatic that she actually did it! I was videotaping with the proudest grin on my face! But, as soon as she noticed none of the other girls did as they were supposed to, she went back to the original line. Good job, though, Ella! You rock!
All in all, though, I give the girls' attempt a standing ovation. They all enjoyed each other (parents included) and the past 10 weeks have been a lot of fun for us all. Ella grew a lot with this experience, and even if the performance tonight stunk, the lessons she learned will stick with her for quite some time.
When I told Ella today was her last day of ballet, I asked her if that makes her happy or sad. She made a pouty face and said that it made her sad. So, I asked her if she'd want to do a different ballet class. Her response was an excited, "Yes!"
So, I'm looking into dance studios as we speak! Even though it seems classes will be about $45.00/month (plus cost of shoes, leotards and costumes), you can't put a price on a child's happiness. And, since she has shown great interest in continuing ballet (unlike soccer!!!), we have to support her passion and keep it going until she tells us otherwise.
Okay, everybody...enjoy the performance! If you choose to leave a comment...be nice! :)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
"Miracles Happen"
Ella's ballet instructor has repeatedly told us parents that "miracles happen." She's, of course, referring to tomorrow's recital. Having 3-year olds follow any sort of instructions, let alone an entire dance routine in front of an audience, is terrifying to think about. There is no predictability in what will happen! But, Ella's instructor, who has been teaching ballet for many, many years, is hopeful and confident. She said that even if the dancers forget the entire routine and simply twirl around in circles or skip from left to right, it is still an exciting time. I am definitely excited to see how well Ella does tomorrow, but as a mom, I'm nervous too!
Today was her dress rehearsal. Ella's costume is the best kind...free! She and her fellow dancers are to wear yellow sundresses and, luckily, we had one hanging in her closet.
Got an itch there, Ella? :)
All lined up for their routine. Ella is the back leader! (The young lady standing with them is the instructor's assistant).
Today was her dress rehearsal. Ella's costume is the best kind...free! She and her fellow dancers are to wear yellow sundresses and, luckily, we had one hanging in her closet.
Got an itch there, Ella? :)
All lined up for their routine. Ella is the back leader! (The young lady standing with them is the instructor's assistant).
Such form!
"It's the truth! It's actual! Everything is satisfactual!"
Swaying.
"Plenty of sunshine heading my way!"
Ella's dance partner, Alyssa. They are so cute together!
With all the painting we've been doing with our kitchen cabinet remodel, Ella naturally wanted to feel included. So, I went to Michael's and bought her some new paint and paint brushes. She's painted some beautiful paintings, all of which she's wanted to give to Grandma and Grandpa. Hopefully she'll make me one. :)
That's her "I'm a ham" smile! Love it!
This painting is now hanging above Grandma's desk at her work.
What would a post be without a picture of our beloved Bob? This shot was taken tonight. I was in the bathroom giving Ella a bath. I look down the hall and I see these big brown eyes spying on me.
Tomorrow is Friday, everybody! T.G.I.F.!!!
Becoming A Patient Woman
All I can say right now is, "Whoa!" God is really trying to tell me something. I receive daily devotions via e-mail from Proverbs 31 Ministries, and today's devotion was entitled "Becoming A Patient Woman." I opened the e-mail with a big, fat smile on my face, knowing full well that this devotion topic wasn't a mere coincidence. That it isn't just a fluke I received this powerful message during this time of my life where patience is my #1 obstacle (See my post, Patience is Hard to Come By). So, as I read the devotion, I absorbed the truth in the written words and allowed God to give me peace...a patient peace. Whenever I feel a glimpse of this patient peace, I become calm and okay with the way my life is unfolding. But, as quickly as it comes, it goes away. Patience is just so hard to obtain, especially for me!
So, I'm praying for patience and understanding as God continues to work through me. I know that if I seek Him first, all things will come together, but there is still that awful, stubborn part of me that doesn't want to give up control of my life. I want to control my life. But through this infertility, I am certain more than ever that it is not me that is controlling my life, it is God controlling His life. I need to remember that I am nothing without Him and I need to give my life to Him and succumb to His beautiful provision. And with His gentle push, I pray I start to realize the beauty of this life He has blessed me with, regardless of all the things I'm so impatiently waiting for.
And I will be all the more richly blessed for having waited so long.
So, I'm praying for patience and understanding as God continues to work through me. I know that if I seek Him first, all things will come together, but there is still that awful, stubborn part of me that doesn't want to give up control of my life. I want to control my life. But through this infertility, I am certain more than ever that it is not me that is controlling my life, it is God controlling His life. I need to remember that I am nothing without Him and I need to give my life to Him and succumb to His beautiful provision. And with His gentle push, I pray I start to realize the beauty of this life He has blessed me with, regardless of all the things I'm so impatiently waiting for.
And I will be all the more richly blessed for having waited so long.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Patience is Hard to Come By
If I had to choose three words to describe my life right now it would be LACK OF PATIENCE!!!
There is so much in my life testing my level of patience. Not only is my infertility teaching me the hard lesson of patience, but many other areas of my life are also being tested.
Ella is going through a phase right now. I can't quite get a hold of where this phase is stemming from, but she has pretty much stopped listening to Aaron and me. I realize her independence is shining through and she is trying to grow into her own person and test her limits on her way, but the respect she used to have for us is out the door. She is testing my patience all...the...time. Being patient towards Ella comes naturally, though, because she is my daughter and my unconditional love for her kicks in, but I still wish her listening ear hadn't gone deaf.
Also, my cupboard project is going to take absolutely forever. I went into this project blindly ignorant as to how much time and energy will go into it. In my mind, I didn't think it'd be this time-consuming. In any case, I plan on doing a little each day. I want to keep the fun in remodeling my kitchen without the task becoming daunting and overwhelming. Wish me luck!
Thirdly, losing weight is requiring a lot...and, I mean A LOT...of patience. As I said in my post, Infertility Fifteen, Aaron and I are striving to lead healthier lives. Aaron re-joined the gym (in fact, that is where he is as I write this) and we both are more conscious of what we are eating and portioning our shares. I'm eating as if I'm pregnant already...feeding my body the nutrition a growing baby would need. It's still hard, though, and I struggle, but at the end of the day, I am willing to sacrifice momentary pleasure of indulging in some of my favorite foods with the flicker of hope that perhaps this healthy lifestyle will help us conceive our second child.
Food has always been my therapy. It helps me cope. However, I'm trying to retrain myself to turn to God, Aaron and my family when needing a coping mechanism. I need to rely on them, rather than food, to help with the pain I'm experiencing with my infertility.
So, as I take each day as it comes, I will "[w]ait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:14 (NLT)). For, as Wendy wrote in The Waiting, "God doesn't waste time; He holds it in His hands. He redeems it by using our experiences to prosper us in each season of life."
There is so much in my life testing my level of patience. Not only is my infertility teaching me the hard lesson of patience, but many other areas of my life are also being tested.
Ella is going through a phase right now. I can't quite get a hold of where this phase is stemming from, but she has pretty much stopped listening to Aaron and me. I realize her independence is shining through and she is trying to grow into her own person and test her limits on her way, but the respect she used to have for us is out the door. She is testing my patience all...the...time. Being patient towards Ella comes naturally, though, because she is my daughter and my unconditional love for her kicks in, but I still wish her listening ear hadn't gone deaf.
Also, my cupboard project is going to take absolutely forever. I went into this project blindly ignorant as to how much time and energy will go into it. In my mind, I didn't think it'd be this time-consuming. In any case, I plan on doing a little each day. I want to keep the fun in remodeling my kitchen without the task becoming daunting and overwhelming. Wish me luck!
Thirdly, losing weight is requiring a lot...and, I mean A LOT...of patience. As I said in my post, Infertility Fifteen, Aaron and I are striving to lead healthier lives. Aaron re-joined the gym (in fact, that is where he is as I write this) and we both are more conscious of what we are eating and portioning our shares. I'm eating as if I'm pregnant already...feeding my body the nutrition a growing baby would need. It's still hard, though, and I struggle, but at the end of the day, I am willing to sacrifice momentary pleasure of indulging in some of my favorite foods with the flicker of hope that perhaps this healthy lifestyle will help us conceive our second child.
Food has always been my therapy. It helps me cope. However, I'm trying to retrain myself to turn to God, Aaron and my family when needing a coping mechanism. I need to rely on them, rather than food, to help with the pain I'm experiencing with my infertility.
So, as I take each day as it comes, I will "[w]ait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." (Psalm 27:14 (NLT)). For, as Wendy wrote in The Waiting, "God doesn't waste time; He holds it in His hands. He redeems it by using our experiences to prosper us in each season of life."
Monday, July 26, 2010
Video of Arnold...uh, I mean Aaron
Aaron is shamelessly funny. And the best part is, he would act this way in front of a crowd of people too. I just love him! He's such a dork and doesn't care what other people think. I hope you get a good laugh from this video. :)
Cabinet Update
What a weekend! We were busy, busy, busy working on our cabinets.
This picture was just too cute to not post. Aaron was about to head out and meet his friend for coffee and this is what he saw. Apparently Bob didn't want him to go!
Aaron's hands and arms are probably still vibrating from sanding so much! I don't even want to say how long it took him to get it all done, but I can say that all the sanding is done!
That is A LOT of doors!
This is what our kitchen looks like right now. Thankfully I was able to put all our food, etc. back in the cupboards. Making meals with everything sprawled around everywhere was a bit tricky. Plus, having everything on the floor brought the best (or should I say worst?) out of Ella and Bob's curiosity.
Look at all those cookbooks. I need to put them to good use!
Yesterday, we put a coat of primer on the cabinets and figured that was enough. And I just finished up the first coat of "Dove White" Valspar Premium High Gloss paint. We're thinking two coats of the paint will seal the deal.
Aaron spent the entire day today (seriously) coating the cabinet doors with primer. Poor guy. He told me he's done now. He did a lot for me, and with this being "my" project, I understand him wanting to enjoy the remainder of his summer vacation and spend some time with Ella. So the rest of the work is all on me, which means the progress updates will not be as frequent. I just hope Aaron can manage to have the house be in a chaotic state for awhile longer. Aaron and messes don't mesh well. :)
This picture was just too cute to not post. Aaron was about to head out and meet his friend for coffee and this is what he saw. Apparently Bob didn't want him to go!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Our Marriage
I recently came across a list posted by Gina @ It's How She Rolls about ten things she and her husband are doing right in their marriage and one thing they are not. I found her post fascinating and, with her approval, I am recreating the same list for Aaron and me.
Here it goes!
Ten Things We Are Doing RIGHT in Our Marriage:
1. Our ability to laugh with each other. I would never consider myself a funny person. I'm not the one cracking the jokes at the party. But, I am the one laughing! And Aaron...well...I find him so funny. He ties with my dad, who I can't help but laugh around. They both make me laugh from my soul and that is one of the best characteristics the two most important men of my life share in common. Hey! They always say a daughter marries someone like their dad. :)
2. Our future. Aaron and I have our heart in the present but our eye on the future. We both communicate what we want our tomorrows to bring and we are both together on our decisions. One of the best parts about being married is planning a beautiful life together, whether or not it'll happen as planned, it is still so fun to hope and dream together.
3. Ella. Aaron and I are united in raising our daughter the best we can. I cannot imagine having a better parenting partner than Aaron.
4. Support. Pretty much half of our marriage, Aaron was in school. The first year (and most of my pregnancy with Ella) he had to finish his final classes at Portland State University and then for the past 2-1/2 years, Ella and I supported Aaron's quest to earn his credential and master's degree in special education. He will be finalizing his thesis this Fall! I support him 100%, just as he supports me 100%.
5. Considerate of each other's opinions and feelings. Aaron and I by no means see eye to eye on everything. The saying, "Agree to disagree" definitely applies here! But, we always listen to each other, value each other's opinions and feelings on any given issue and then work through it. We don't always agree, but I don't think agreeing is always necessary. It is how we work through the disagreements that matters and helps mature our relationship.
6. Prioritize each other. Hands down, Aaron puts my needs before his own. As an example, he could be dirt tired and ready to just crash into slumber bliss, and all I have to do is hint at my back hurting and he's there, rubbing my back. He makes me feel so important. My needs matter to him like they are his own. I can honestly say that he is better in this area than I am, but through his actions, he is teaching me how to selflessly give myself to him.
7. Compliment each other. We don't necessarily give tons of compliments to each other everyday. Every once and awhile kind words are exchanged. "You look beautiful today." "Wow, that shirt makes you look ripped." (Aaron likes to hear that one! Haha!). But, in our home, our jobs, our finances, our decisions, our parenting...we compliment each other. We bring out the best in each other. I make him a better man and he makes me a better woman.
8. Emotionally available. More often than not I am a closed book. Even though I wear my emotions on my sleeve, I still keep so much to myself. But Aaron, being the opposite in that respect, has taught me that it's okay to be vulnerable and to expose my true feelings. Through this battle through infertility, we have come together and leaned on each other a lot for emotional support. Our infertility has taught us the true meaning of being emotionally available to one another. We have grown in this area so much the past couple years.
9. Family. Family means so much to each of us. Without them, we would be nothing. It is through our family that our characters grew. Aaron is warm, confident, loving and selfless, and I have his parents to thank for that. I'm a royal mess, and I have my parents to thank for that. Haha! Just kidding! My parents molded me into the woman I am today. They gave me a sense of value, respect and pride that I have taken with me.
10. Love love. Aaron and I have "love love." This saying came about early in our relationship and it stuck. It's a special kind of love. It's playful, fun, sincere and unique. I can't describe it, but whenever we say "love love" to each other, we both share a mutual feeling and understanding. Ella calls us her "love loves," and it about melts my heart into a puddle of mush.
One Thing We Are Doing WRONG in Our Marriage:
1. Understanding our differences. It is sometimes hard to understand our differences. God made us differently, we are two different people, so it's only natural for differences between us to form. But, appreciating those differences is sometimes hard, especially when those differences can cause conflict. We handle stress differently, we parent differently, we feel differently on issues. We have different work ethics, different personalities, different faith...the list is infinite. And although we 100% love each other and I would not want to be married to any other guy, appreciating those differences is hard. We have to focus on not wanting to change each other's differences, but to change our perception of those differences.
Here it goes!
Ten Things We Are Doing RIGHT in Our Marriage:
1. Our ability to laugh with each other. I would never consider myself a funny person. I'm not the one cracking the jokes at the party. But, I am the one laughing! And Aaron...well...I find him so funny. He ties with my dad, who I can't help but laugh around. They both make me laugh from my soul and that is one of the best characteristics the two most important men of my life share in common. Hey! They always say a daughter marries someone like their dad. :)
2. Our future. Aaron and I have our heart in the present but our eye on the future. We both communicate what we want our tomorrows to bring and we are both together on our decisions. One of the best parts about being married is planning a beautiful life together, whether or not it'll happen as planned, it is still so fun to hope and dream together.
3. Ella. Aaron and I are united in raising our daughter the best we can. I cannot imagine having a better parenting partner than Aaron.
4. Support. Pretty much half of our marriage, Aaron was in school. The first year (and most of my pregnancy with Ella) he had to finish his final classes at Portland State University and then for the past 2-1/2 years, Ella and I supported Aaron's quest to earn his credential and master's degree in special education. He will be finalizing his thesis this Fall! I support him 100%, just as he supports me 100%.
5. Considerate of each other's opinions and feelings. Aaron and I by no means see eye to eye on everything. The saying, "Agree to disagree" definitely applies here! But, we always listen to each other, value each other's opinions and feelings on any given issue and then work through it. We don't always agree, but I don't think agreeing is always necessary. It is how we work through the disagreements that matters and helps mature our relationship.
6. Prioritize each other. Hands down, Aaron puts my needs before his own. As an example, he could be dirt tired and ready to just crash into slumber bliss, and all I have to do is hint at my back hurting and he's there, rubbing my back. He makes me feel so important. My needs matter to him like they are his own. I can honestly say that he is better in this area than I am, but through his actions, he is teaching me how to selflessly give myself to him.
7. Compliment each other. We don't necessarily give tons of compliments to each other everyday. Every once and awhile kind words are exchanged. "You look beautiful today." "Wow, that shirt makes you look ripped." (Aaron likes to hear that one! Haha!). But, in our home, our jobs, our finances, our decisions, our parenting...we compliment each other. We bring out the best in each other. I make him a better man and he makes me a better woman.
8. Emotionally available. More often than not I am a closed book. Even though I wear my emotions on my sleeve, I still keep so much to myself. But Aaron, being the opposite in that respect, has taught me that it's okay to be vulnerable and to expose my true feelings. Through this battle through infertility, we have come together and leaned on each other a lot for emotional support. Our infertility has taught us the true meaning of being emotionally available to one another. We have grown in this area so much the past couple years.
9. Family. Family means so much to each of us. Without them, we would be nothing. It is through our family that our characters grew. Aaron is warm, confident, loving and selfless, and I have his parents to thank for that. I'm a royal mess, and I have my parents to thank for that. Haha! Just kidding! My parents molded me into the woman I am today. They gave me a sense of value, respect and pride that I have taken with me.
10. Love love. Aaron and I have "love love." This saying came about early in our relationship and it stuck. It's a special kind of love. It's playful, fun, sincere and unique. I can't describe it, but whenever we say "love love" to each other, we both share a mutual feeling and understanding. Ella calls us her "love loves," and it about melts my heart into a puddle of mush.
One Thing We Are Doing WRONG in Our Marriage:
1. Understanding our differences. It is sometimes hard to understand our differences. God made us differently, we are two different people, so it's only natural for differences between us to form. But, appreciating those differences is sometimes hard, especially when those differences can cause conflict. We handle stress differently, we parent differently, we feel differently on issues. We have different work ethics, different personalities, different faith...the list is infinite. And although we 100% love each other and I would not want to be married to any other guy, appreciating those differences is hard. We have to focus on not wanting to change each other's differences, but to change our perception of those differences.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Kiss the Hardworking Husband
Aaron's work ethic is unlike any you've seen. Mostly a good thing, but sometimes anything (or anyone) unrelated to finishing his project gets put on the back burner, including Nink (me) and Little Nink (Ella). He gets in this untouchable, relentless, don't-get-in-my-path-or-I'll-knock-you-down zone. Over the years, I've learned to recognize when he's in this zone and to not take anything personally at that time. He just won't stop short of perfection and won't sit down until the job is done. As for me and my dilly dallying pace, I need a husband like him to help me complete projects. If it wasn't for him, I'd have tons of unfinished projects around the house.
A few days ago Aaron took down all our kitchen cabinets and started sanding them. If you know Aaron, you know volunteering to do manual labor outdoors in the summer heat is unheard of. But, his work ethic knows no boundaries. He charges through those cabinet doors like it's nobody's business.
Today, while Aaron sanded some cabinet doors on the back patio, I removed all food, mini-appliances, plates, glasses, etc. from the cabinets and displaced them throughout the house. Our laundry room, living room and garage are quite the mess right now. It's amazing how much stuff fits in those cabinets!
Afterwards, we taped off our kitchen with big plastic sheets and sanded the cabinets themselves. We were quite the sight with our goggles, masks and ear plugs. I wanted to take a picture of us to share with you all (simply for laughing purposes), but Aaron would not allow his "baby" (Nikon D60 SLR Camera) anywhere near the dust-filled kitchen. I don't blame him!
The sanding of the cabinets ended up being about a 5-hour project, from set-up to clean-up. We first sanded the cabinets down with 60 grit sandpaper, then we went over everything again with 220 grit sandpaper to give it the smooth finish.
What did Ella do during this time? I went in and out of the kitchen, checking on her and making sure she was alright, but she's very independent and can play very well by herself. She watched "Toy Story," put puzzles together and played with the paper plates, cups and napkins she found lying around (since all our kitchen stuff was in her reach). Look at what she made!
Our cabinets are now as smooth as a baby's bottom. And, since I don't have a baby's bottom in my life right now (or baby anything, for that matter), our cabinets are the next best thing. :)
So, with all of Aaron's hard work on a project that he didn't entirely feel necessary in the first place, I think I owe him millions of kisses. I imprinted this "Kiss the Cook" inscription above our dining table.
Whenever I make a nice dinner I like to remind him that he owes me a kiss. Well, there should be an inscription that says, "Kiss the Hardworking Husband" for him to point at and gloat. He deserves all the kisses in the world. Thanks for all our hard work, hun!
A few days ago Aaron took down all our kitchen cabinets and started sanding them. If you know Aaron, you know volunteering to do manual labor outdoors in the summer heat is unheard of. But, his work ethic knows no boundaries. He charges through those cabinet doors like it's nobody's business.
Today, while Aaron sanded some cabinet doors on the back patio, I removed all food, mini-appliances, plates, glasses, etc. from the cabinets and displaced them throughout the house. Our laundry room, living room and garage are quite the mess right now. It's amazing how much stuff fits in those cabinets!
What did Ella do during this time? I went in and out of the kitchen, checking on her and making sure she was alright, but she's very independent and can play very well by herself. She watched "Toy Story," put puzzles together and played with the paper plates, cups and napkins she found lying around (since all our kitchen stuff was in her reach). Look at what she made!
Dancing around.
Aaron's a lean, mean mopping machine!
Friday, July 23, 2010
All You Need Is Love
After spending the last three days with family, I have come to a conclusion...
ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE!
However sappy it sounds, it's the truth! Being surrounded by family just reaffirms how important my loved ones are to me. Carrying conversations and laughing with family members I don't see nearly enough holds a special place in my heart.
Wednesday evening, my parents, Aaron, Ella and I went to the fair in town. We all had a blast! I absolutely LOVE hanging out with my parents. They are such hams and we always laugh and have a good time.
Ella loved the small ferris wheel. We were concerned it'd be too high for her. Her response, "I'm not scared. I'll be brave. I can do it!" Yes, ma'am!
Gotta love the black & white shots!
Jumping on the lily pads into the rainforest adventure, where a zoo of snakes, parrots, monkeys, etc. awaited.
I spy with my little eye a TURTLE!
My parents soaking in their favorite little girl.
This same artist drew caricatures of Sister and me when we were young. Cartoon Ella is so cute (but I think the real Ella is cuter!). And, please disregard my half-blinked smile. It was the best picture we got.
Caterpillar rollercoaster time!
This swing is a lot bigger than the swing at the park, huh Ella?
Ride #2 on the swing. Aaron decided to take the camera this time.
Everybody loves the Tilt-a-Whirl, including Ella!
This ride didn't look that high up, but once up there, Aaron was nervous. He said he was really scared falling! See for yourself!
Aaron wasn't scared at all on this ride, he was just having fooling around. Oh my gosh, he had my parents and I cracking up! He really fits in with the 12-year olds to his left.
My beautiful mom and Ella.
Ella sat down on the motorcycle the wrong way at first. Haha!
Aaron's fastest pitch was 70 m.p.h. He was kinda disappointed it wasn't faster, but I thought he was great!
There were a ton of "car rides"...ranging from Monster Trucks to Corvettes for the kiddies to ride on. Ella just went from one ride to the next. She had a blast!
Weeeeeee!!! For some reason, the slide's lights weren't on.
Aaron got off this ride and asked, "How old am I?" Going on these rides and looking around and only seeing young teenyboppers made him feel really old.
Yesterday, Aaron's cousin, Vicki (who Ella calls "Mickey") and her new husband, Derek, visited from Bend, Oregon. They went on a late week-long honeymoon in Monterey, and being the awesome people that they are, decided to stop by for a visit and stay overnight. I didn't take any pictures (I know...shocking!), but it was really great having family visit us in our home. We shared stories, laughter and good times. Thanks for coming, guys! We loved having you. :)
Then, today, Aaron, Ella and I headed over to my grandparents' place for some swimming and yummy dinner. I absolutely love my grandparents. Their stories and warmth always make me feel so happy and comfortable. My grandpa has so much knowledge with geology that Aaron just craves to absorb. Grandpa loves talking about rocks, wood, etc. and Aaron loves learning about things like that. My grandparents have a whole cottage of collectible items that grandpa loves to share details about. Aaron always has an eager listening ear and is willing to learn new things.
And grandma has such a sweet soul. She always goes above and beyond for family. We had snacks, a full course dinner and then cheesecake for dessert. All just for us! I can tell she loved having Ella take to her right away. In fact, Ella didn't want to leave "great grammy." Ella cuddled, joked and hugged my grandma like they were best buds. It makes me so happy seeing that!
Give Aaron and Ella a body of water, and there will be throwing!
Ella being brave in the deep end. Don't worry, Aaron was close by.
Where we chitchatted. I love my grandparents' yard!
Beautiful, breezy Ella!
Crazy Ella!
Great-Grammy and Ella cuddle time!
Great-Grammy and Ella joke time!
So, if any of you out there are going through a tough time, just remember that at the end of the day...the greatest gift is to love and to be loved. I am very thankful for my family. I love you all!
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